Mode of or means for assembling and tensioning the wire striking faces of metallic rackets and the like



July 7, 1925. 1,545,314

F. W. GOWER ET AL ASSENBLING AND TENSIONING THE WIRE s'rmxme moss or MODE OF OR MEANS FOR METALLIC RACKETS ANDTHE LIKE Original Filed June 29, 1923 FIG.

FIG.

Patented July 7, 1925.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS WILLIAM GOWER, HUGH JAMES OWEN, AND ROBERT JOHN NASH, I

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

MODE OF OR MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING AND TENSIONING THE WIRE STRIKING FACES OF METALLIC RACKETS AND THE LIKE.

Original application filed June 29, 1923, Serial No. 648,539. Divided and this application filed September 4, 1924. Serial No. 735,925.

To all whom it may concern,

Be it known that we, FRANCIS WILLIAM Gowns, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Dunoon, Russell Road, Moseley, Birmingham, in the county of lVarwick, England, HUGH JAMEs OWEN, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, re-

siding at 110 Trinity Road, Birchfields, Birmingham, in the county of lVarwiok, Eng land, and Bonner J OHN NAsH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Oakfielcl Road, Cannon Hill, Birmingham, formerly of 4-6 Beaconsfield Road, Cannon Hill, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Eng land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Mode of or Means for Assembling and Tensioning the Wire Striking Faces of Metallic Rackets and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to a mode of or means for assembling and tensioning the flexible striking faces of metallic rackets and the like, and consists in firstly lacing the frame evenly in one direction, then temporarily distorting, straining, or bending it to tension such lacing, and then lacing crosswise to a desired tautness and releasing the frame so that by reason of its inherent resiliency or strength it tends to re-shape itself and so increases the tension of the cross-wiring which holds the first mentioned wiring at the desired tautness.

The invention also consists in a metallic racket laced in this way with a suitable wire lacing.

Apparatus for carrying out the above operation comprises in one instance a cramp adapted by a screw or equivalent device to force the sides of theracket frame inwardly so as temporarily to elongate it, after which the cramp is released or unscrewed to allow the frame to reshape itself.

Apparatus for carrying out the foregoing operation in another instance comprises a cramp adapted by a screw or equivalent device to effect an outward pull or opposed internal pressure on the extremities of the frame so as temporarily to elongate it, after which the cramp is released or unscrewed to allow the frame to reshape itself.

The present process and apparatus is particularly suitable for use in assembling and tensioning the metal striking faces of a me tallic racket, the frame of Which is formed from a strip or bar of solid section metal, the extremities of which are directed out wardly to form the handle and wherein a spacing piece is fixed at thejunction of the limbs with the frame and completes the latter. A frame of this character can be distorted or strained, and yet will return to its normal shape, and it is thus admirably suited for the purposes of this invention. Our invention is not restricted to Wiring such a metallic racket, but may be applied in wiring any racket having a frame suitable for the purpose.

This specification is a division of our copending application for Letters Patent of the United States for improvements in tennis racquets and the like, filed June 29th, 1923, Serial No. 648,539.

I11 order that this invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into practice, reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings, upon which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus for assembling and tensioning the wire striking face.

Figure 2, is a transverse section taken on line 00 of Figure 1.

Figure 3, is a plan view of a slightly modified apparatus. 7 Y

In a convenientembodiment of the present invention, described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a somewhat rectangular frame 1, having two parallel transverse rods or shafts 2 upon which the halves of the cramp are mounted, one half .3 beingfixed, and the other half 4i being slidable and controlled by a screw 5, the thread of which operates in a tapped aperture, in the frame, and which screw is provided with a handle 6, as shown.

Each half of the cramp has a semi-elliptical cavity 7 cut therein, and the upper edge around each cavity is rebated or recessed at 8, adapted to receive the frame 9 of the racket 9, 10, indicated by the dotted lines.

fax

- alternatively The frame 9 of the racket is placed in these rebates or recesses 8, as shown in the Figure 1, the cramp tightened and the frame 9 compressed laterally, and thereby-slightly elongated, this elongation being. permitted by the shapes of the cavities in the cramp.- The. rebates or. recesses 8 are of .a depth adapted to leave the major part ofthe frame projecting so as to leave its striking face apertures exposed. Pivotal holding clamps 11 are provided on the cramp halves and are adapted to be pivoted to rest upon the upper edge .ofthe frame 9, to prevent its inadvertent separation from the cramp when,

subjected to pressure. These pivotal clamps may-be tightened. by thumb screws. A wire tensioningudevice 12 mayv be employed, adapted to. be assembled at .any one .of the four spaced positionslS on the frame; or, four :such memhers12 may be employed. volve a vertical rotatable spindle: through whichthe .end ofthe wire is adapted to be.

passed, and which spindlelhas a handle for its rotation, and apawl and ratchet mecha nism 14 to prevent its backward rotation.

Single, two or more strand wire may be used forthe striking face of the racket.

In operation, the. frame of the racket is first evenly wired longitudinally, .as shown in the Figure 1,. in .any convenient manner,- and the ends of the wire secured in the frame; the frame. is thensubjected to lat eral pressure in the cramp, thus elongating the frame and bringing the longitudinal wires in tension to a degreeabove that .nor-. mally required in the finished racket.

' While the frame is compressed, the transverse wires are:- threaded. and brought to an even tension slightly less than-required in the finished racket. This can be done conveniently by the, tensioning device-12 aforesaid. The ends of the cross wire ere secured in the frame, and the latter is relieved of pressure and permitted to expand itself laterally and thereby to tighten the transverse wires, and distribute the tension between. the respective 'wirings. "Usually rackets are of an oval, shapeand with such shapes it is easier to distort the frame by lengthening the major axis than the minor. one and. consequently a lower tension in the cross wiring will hold and maintain the longitudinal wiring at a higher degree of tension.

In another embodiment of the present invention, described with reference to vFigure 3, the apparatus comprises a; somewhat rectangular frame 1 having two parallel transverse rods or shafts 2 upon which the halves 8 and 4 of the cramp are mounted, one half 3 being 'fixed and the other half 4 being slidable and controlled by a screw 5, the thread of which operates in a tapped aperture in the slidable half,.and which uch a tension device. may inscrew is provided with a handle 6. Each half of the cramp has a semi-elliptical ends of the racket frame to ensure that the pull is distributed as evenly as possibleover th longitudinal wires.

Pivotal holding clamps 16' are. provided on the cramp halves and areadapted to be pivoted to rest upon the uppergedge: of the frame to prevent its inadvertent separation from the cramp when subjected .to pressure These pivotal clamps may 'be-tightened I by thumb screws.

Four or other number of wire tensioning devices 12 may be employed upon the frame, or alternatively one tension device may be employed, adapted to be assembled at any one of the four spaced positions on. the frame, all as in the previous instance.

In operation, the frame of theracket is firstly-wired longitudinally in any convenient manner to a normal tension, andthe ends of the wire attached to the frame. The interior of-the frame is thensubjected at its extremities to outward pressure' ,-in the manner aforesaid, thus elongating it, and considerably ,tensioning the wires.

While the frame is strained, the transverse-wires are threaded, and broughtto a desired tautness conveniently by the rotary tensioning device aforesaid. The ends of thelwire are secured in the frame, the latter is released from pressure andv permitted to expand itself with results similar to those described with "reference to the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

.We claim 1. A mode of assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face of a racket or the like, consisting in firstly threading or lacing the material of .the striking face inv the frame evenly in one direction, then temporarily distorting, straining, or bending the frame to tension such material, and then threading or lacing the frame crosswise to a desired tautness, and releasing the frame so that it tendsto re-shape itself and suitably distributes the tension in the flexible striking face in the frame.

2. A mod-e of assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face of a racket or the like as in claim 1, wherein the desired distortion of the frame is effected by forcibly elongating .the frame in the direction in which the first lacing runs to diminish the lateral dimension of the frame, and wherein the cross-lacing of the frame is done whilst the latter is in this elongated condition.

3. Apparatus for use in assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face of a racket or the like, comprising screw means for elongating temporarily the racket frame, said screw means also serving to retain said frame in elongated condition while a lacing operation is performed on the racket.

4. Apparatus for use in assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face of a racket, comprising means for engaging the sides of the racket frame so as to leave the lacing apertures therein clear, and screw means for bringing said engaging means nearer to each other and thereby elongating said racket frame.

5. Apparatus for use in assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face in an apertured frame of a racket, comprising a screw-operated device for distorting the racket frame while the latter is laced in one direction, with clamps on said device for holding the racket frame thereon during the operation. i

6. Apparatus for use in assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face in an apertured frame of a racket, comprising a screw-operated device for distorting the racket frame while the latter is laced in one direction in which ajrotary tensioning device is incorporated for use in the operation of lacing the racket frame.

7. Apparatus for use in assembling and tensioning the flexible striking face in an apertured frame of a racket, comprising in combination a rectangular frame with a pair of cross rods on which two complementary cramp parts are mounted, a screw working in the frame to force the one cramp towards the other, and means on the cramp parts to engage opposite portions of the racket frame so as to distort the frame for the lacing operation when the screw is tightened up.

8. A racket or the like having a frame and a striking face formed by lacing wire through apertures, therein, in which the longitudinal wiring is separate from the lateral wiring and in which one of said wirings is inserted while the frame is distorted sufficiently to tension the other wiring, and the Wiring so inserted serves to retain the other wiring in desired tension when the frame is released from distortion.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FRANCIS WILLIAM GOWER. HUGH JAMES OWEN. ROBERT JOHN NASH. 

